All of these units use the USB interface. In many cases, serial interfaces are also available - and those drivers are already included in version 5.08.

Version 5.08 or higher Required
Before installing these drivers, be sure that version 5.08 or higher is installed. You can verify the version of your Maptech navigation software by choosing "About" from the "Help" menu.

For Chart Navigator Viewer (included on early "Digital ChartKits", "Power Squadron Training CDs", and available for free download), click here for the 5.08 software.

These drivers are NOT compatible with earlier editions of these Maptech products. Failure to update to version 5.08 before downloading these drivers will corrupt your installation.

These drivers are not for use with Maptech's "Chart Navigator Pro v1.1" or "The CAPN."

Beta Software
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PATCH IS "BETA" SOFTWARE WHICH MEANS THAT IT HAS NOT GONE THROUGH THE USUAL RIGOROUS TESTING PROCEDURES THAT MAPTECH USES FOR OFFICIAL RELEASES OF ITS SOFTWARE. We are pleased to make these updated GPS drivers available to our customers, while development and testing continues on the next releases of Offshore Navigator and Chart Navigator. Because of the 'beta' status of these drivers, Maptech can only offer limited technical support on their use and functionality. Likewise, please let us know if you have any difficulties with these drivers, so that they may be corrected.

Beta Software: Known Incompatibilities
It has been determined that these drivers appear very reliable for transferring waypoints, routes, and tracks between the GPS and Offshore Navigator. However, extreme caution should be employed when using these GPS units as live position antennas. In many circumstances, there is a significant delay between the reported position, and the actual position. In other words, in a fast-moving vessel, the position shown in Offshore Navigator may be several seconds old. Therefore, we DO NOT recommend using these drivers for navigational (live tracking) purposes.
A work around for this delay can be to convert the incoming GARMIN data to the NMEA 0183 standard with utilities like Garmin's Spanner (for XP only) - or - Franson's GpsGate Client (for 98, 2000, XP, Vista, & 7).

How To Install
Click the link below. In most instances, your web browser will ask if the file should be Opened, or Saved to your computer. Choose Save, then select a location to Save the downloaded file In. If you are unfamiliar with downloading and applying software patches, we recommend choosing your "Desktop"; select Save In, Desktop and press Save. Once the download completes, double-click the downloaded application that appears on your Desktop. This will apply the download to your Maptech installation. Once that process is completed, you may run your Maptech application and (once working) delete the download from your Desktop.

Please note: Do NOT save this update in the same folder as your existing Maptech application. Doing so may corrupt your installation, requiring a complete re-install to correct.

Using the Drivers: Automatic Configuration with the GPS Setup Wizard
Once the drivers have been downloaded and installed, the fastest and easiest way to get Offshore Navigator properly configured for your GPS is to use the GPS Setup Wizard. The Wizard will automatically detect your GPS, find out its make and model, and determine what COM port it is connected to on your computer. The Wizard will then make all necessary settings so Offshore Navigator can communicate with your GPS unit, and vice versa. If any connection problems are detected, the Wizard will likely tell you exactly how to fix them. All you have to do is click the Vessel/GPS menu, then, Setup, GPS Setup Wizard and follow the simple instructions on the screen.

When the Wizard is finished, Offshore Navigator will be ready to communicate with your GPS unit. To connect to the GPS, choose Vessel Position from GPS from the Vessel/GPS menu. To activate the moving chart display, click Follow Vessel - found in the lower left-hand corner of the chart display window.